Textile machinery cleaning apparatus and method



Aug. 1964 P. F. MAGUIRE, JR

TEXTILE MACHINERY CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 20, 1961 Q 6Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

PHILIP F. MAGUIRE, JR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1964 3,142,856

TEXTILE MACHINERY CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD P. F. MAGUIREQ, JR

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

IIIII-Z.

ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1964 p MAGUIRE, JR 3,142,856

TEXTILE MACHINERY CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 20, 1961 6Sheets-Sheet 3 flwb 19.40%

ATTORNEY PHL'IP F. MAGUIRE, JR.

Augl'4, 1964 p u JR 3,142,856 TEXTILE MACHINERY CLEANING APPARATUS ANDMETHOD Filed Dec. 20, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 e2- 57 FW1 40b; INVENTOR.

W IHIIHH'IIIIIIII PHILIP MAGUIREJR Aug. 6 P. F. MAGUIRE, JR

TEXTILE MACHINERKI CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDec.

I lo 0 o o O 0 OOb FIG.

ATTORNEY g- 1964 P. F. MAGUIRE, JR 3,142,856

' TEXTILE MACHINERY CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed Dec. 20, 1961 6Sheets$heet 6 1|llIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIIIllil||Illllllllllillillllllll I50 INVENTOR. PHILIP F MAGUIRE,JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent OfliCe 3,l4;2,85 Patented Aug. 4, 19643,142,856 TEXTHE MAfiHlNERY CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHOD Philip F.Magnire, In, Providence, RE, assignor to Grinnell Corporation,Providence, R1, a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 28, 1961, Ser. No.160,859 26 Claims. (Cl. 15-246) This invention relates generally toimprovements in apparatus for removing lint and fly from textilemachinery such as looms or the like. More particularly, the inventionrelates to apparatus for blocking the passage through the textilemachinery of undesirable air currents which are produced by operatingcomponents of the textile ma chinery, and simultaneously therewith, forgathering from the air and collecting lint and fly which is generated byoperation of the textile machinery and removing the collected linttherefrom.

In the past, textile manufacturers have experienced chinery,particularly textile looms, because of large dechinery, particularytextile looms, because of large deposits of lint which are formed duringtextile processing operations. This lint, which results from smallfibers breaking off the warp strands as the latter are drawn through theloom, either falls by gravity into the loom and is deposited thereon, oris caught by small air currents created by various operating parts ofthe loom and is thus distributed fairly evenly over substantially allparts of the machine y. Some of the lint will even be carried upwardlyby these air currents to be thereafter deposited on areas of the loomabove the warp strands or on adjacent machinery. The lint stickstenaciously to any surface on which it is deposited because of a coatingof sizing thereon which is rendered tackey by the high relative humiditynormally maintained in a textile mill.

If left unattended, it would not be long before the lint wouldaccumulate in such thick heavy deposits on the textile machinery as tointerfere with proper operation thereof, and possibly to impair thequality of the product. For example, due to the aforementioned coatingof sizing, the lint, if allowed to collect, would form clumps thickenough to cause malfunction of certain operating parts of the loom,resulting in frequent shut downs for repairs and cleaning. Such shutdowns are obviously costly to the textile manufacturers. Further, itfrequently happens that clumps of lint are deposited upon or fall intothe warp strands in the area of the lay and consequently are woven intothe finished cloth, thereby resulting in an inferior product which islikewise costly to the manufacturer.

The problems of lint deposit are further complicated by the productionof certain air currents by some of the operating parts of the loom.These parts are usually located in the lower regions of the loom andtend to create updrafts of air which prevent lint from falling bygravity into a conventional collection pan located near the floor, andinstead distribute the lint over surfaces higher or to one side of theregion of lint production. One example of such an operating part is themain drive shaft and cam unit for the heddles of the loom. This unit,which is located near the floor, generates a considerable amount of heatduring its operation, thereby creating updrafts as the result ofconvection currents. Another example of such an operating part is thelay of a loom which, by its oscillatory motion, produces a fanningaction and causes air currents to pass through the heddles and againupwardly through the warp strands. It will be apparent that while suchair currents are being created and passed through the loom, very littlelint collection can take place without employing machinery the placementof which would interfere with proper loom operation.

To help overcome the above problems, it has been proposed in the past touse equipment ranging from hand held air hoses to over-head travelingblower units to rigid vacuum hoods mounted on the machinery. Many ofthese devices have enjoyed considerable commercial success, but nonehave combined in one compact assembly the advantages attributed to thepresent invention.

Among the desirable features of lint collection apparatus for textilemachinery are the following: the gathering of lint into a container fromwhich it cannot thereafter escape to be deposited on the textilemachinery or on the floor therearound; the gathering of lint byapparatus which does not rely upon a movement of air to conduct lint toa container inlet; the gathering of lint by apparatus which is notlimited by the air moving abilities of a vacuum system of reasonablesize; the gathering of lint with apparatus which effectively cleansthose portions of itself which are particularly subject to becomingclogged with lintg'the providing of apparatus which can conveniently fitinto existing spaces in textile machinery and which is adaptable for usewith different textile machinery; the blocking of upwardly moving aircurrents and preventing them from passing through the textile machineryand through the material being processed; and the provision of apparatuswhich is simple in construction and easily installed.

One embodiment of the present invention, which is preferred since itincorporates all of the above features and which is adapted for use witha textile loom, includes a relatively wide flat sheet of flexible airimpervious material having a relatively smooth surface on at least oneside thereof. The sheet is suspended beneath the warp strands on thedrop wires side of the heddles of a textile loom, and acts as acollection pan to receive thereon lint and fly from the air that fallsby gravity from the warp strands as the latter pass thereover. Thecollection pan also constitutes a barrier to moving air currents whichare created within the loom. At the rear of the flexible sheet is asuction manifold mounted on the loom in juxta-position to the rear edgeof the collection pan adjacent the heddles, this edge being secured tothe suction manifold. The forward edge of the collection pan is securedby a stiffening bar to a plurality of tension springs, which in turn aresecured to a cross member mounted on the loom frame.

Adjacent the front and rear edges of the collection pan is a shaft, eachshaft having a pair of sprockets thereon, one shaft being driven by asmall electric motor. A pair of chains pass around the sprockets and aredriven by the sprockets mounted on the driven shaft. The chains carry aplurality of sweeper members having resilient fingers thereon, and areso mounted in relation to the collection pan that as the chains move,the sweeper members are drawn across the collection pan in a directionfrom front to rear to remove any lint which has accumulated on thecollection pan during machine operation. The sweeper members push thelint toward the mouth of the suction manifold where the lint is pickedup by a stream of air passing therethrough as a result of reducedpressure therein.

The aforementioned mouth is formed in part by a pivoted hood which ispushed backwardly on its hinge as the sweeper member advances into themouth. As will be seen, the sweeper member passes around an arc whilepushing on the hood in such manner that the outer edge of the hoodscrapes against the resilient fingers to ensure that all the lint hasbeen removed therefrom and drawn into the suction manifold. The sweepermember is then conveyed along the upper run of the chains to the frontedge of the collection pan whereupon the cycle repeats itself.

One desirable feature of this embodiment is that the springs whichsecure the forward edge of the resilient sheet to the cross membermaintained a sufficient tension thereon so that it will conform to anyirregularities in the sweeper members and yet maintain proper contacttherewith, so that all the lint resting on the sheet will be pushedaway.

Having thus described generally a preferred embodi- 'ment of theinvention, a :principal object thereof is the .provision of lintremoving apparatus for textile machinery wherein a flexible stationaryair current barrier simultaneously blocks the movement of undesirableair currents and collects lint falling by gravity andholds such lint forsubsequent removal.

Another object of the invention is the provision of lint removingapparatus for textile machinery having a stationary barrier for movingair currents with a lint collecting surface adapted to receive lintfalling by gravity thereon and means toremove lint so collected from thereceiving surface.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a lintreceiving surface in position to receive lint and fly falling by gravityfrom the strands of material being processed, with means to move thelint on the receiving surface to a removal station for subsequentconcentration and disposition.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of lintremoving apparatus for textile machinery having a stationary surfaceupon which lint and fly fall by gravity from strands of the materialbeing'processed, with sweeping means arranged to push or otherwiseconvey the lint restingon the receiving surface to a suction manifoldlocated adjacent to an edge of the receiving surface whereby the lint isdrawn by air currents to a collection box and concentrated therein.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of lintremoving apparatus for textile machinery wherein a lint receivingsurface positioned on the textile machinery so as to receive lint andfly falling by gravity from strands of material being processed is sweptclean by at least one sweeper member which is caused to move over thesurface, and having a scraper for removing any lint from the sweepermember not drawn off by an air suction over which the sweeper memberpasses.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of lintremoving apparatus for textile machinery having a rigid shield acting asa barrier to moving air currents in lint producing regions of thetextile machinery which barrier has a lint receiving surface forarresting lint falling by gravity onto the surface, and a resilientsweeper member element so arranged that it will conform to anyirregularities in the contour of the lint collecting surface as it movesacross the latter to remove lint collected thereon.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a method forremoving lint from the lint producing regions of textile machinery whichinvolves the blocking of undesirable air currents in the lint producingregions, the arresting of lint falling through the air, the supportingof the lint on a lint receiving surface, the moving of the'arrested lintacross the surface to a lint removal station independently of aircurrents, and the removing ofsuch lint from the lint removing station.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detaileddescription which follows when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying "drawings.

In the drawings, in which the same reference numerals are usedthroughout the several views to indicate like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of part of a textile loom showing oneembodiment of the present invention incorporated therewith, withportions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away .for greaterclarity;

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the device of FIG.1;

FIGURE 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation i of the device ofFIG. 1 with some parts broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 4 is a somewhafdiagrammatic front elevation of the device of FIG.1 with the vacuum collection box included;

FIGURES 57 are fragmentary side elevational views on a larger scale,with certain parts removed for clarity; showing a portion of theoperating cycle of the device of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the sweeping means takenonthe line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 99 of FIG.2, showing the sweeping means, but with a modified form of collectionpan forward edge support;

FIGURE 10 is afragmentary sectional view, similar to FIG. 9, showing amodified form of collection pan;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternative form ofsweeping means taken on the line 11 of FIG. 12;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11;

FIGURE 13 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention having a manual drive means;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view of the sweeper member of the embodimentshown in FIG. 13 taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13; and

FIGUREIS is a fragmentarypart sectional view of the guide track andsweeper member of the embodiment shown in' FIG. 13 taken on the line1515 of FIG. 13.

Referring now tothe drawings FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a textileloom, generally indicated by the numeral 10, with which the presentinvention is concerned. The loom 10 comprises a warp roll 12 from whichwarp strands 14 unwind as they pass over a drag roll16 and a whip roll18. The warp strands 14 pass through the drop wires 29 and thence to theheddles 22 after which they are drawn to the lay side of the loom to beprocessed into finished material. Upper and lower layers 14a and 14brespectively of the warp strands between the drop wires Ziland theheddles 22 are continuously alternated by the heddles during loomoperation, It is thus apparent that considerable quantities of lint willbe produced in this part of the loom. In addition, lint is produced inthe entire region extending from the drag roll 16 to the drop wires, 20.The invention now to be described is directed toward the collection andremoval of this lint.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. l8, a relativelywide fiat sheet made of an air impervious resilient material constitutesa flexible collection pan 24 which extends from a point substantiallybeneath the drag roll 16 to a location adjacent the heddles 22, thisarea being considered a collection station. The collection pan 24 has asmooth upper surface which is presented toward the warp strands 14 andwhich is adapted to re-, ceive thereon lint falling from the warpstrands through the air space over the collection pan 24 as the warpstrands 14 pass'thereover.

As seen in FIGURES l to 3, the front or leading edge of the collectionpan 24 is supported beneath the drag roll 16 by a pair of support frames26 each of whichcomprises an angle member 26a secured at one end to aloom frame cross member 28 and which supports, at its other end, a crossbar26b extending from one side of the loom to the other. A plurality ofcoil springs 32 are connected between the cross bar 26b and a stiffeningbar 34 (FIG. 9) which is inserted through an appropriate seam formed inthe front edge of the collection pan 24. By means of these springs 32,the collection pan can be maintained under proper tension so as tocontinuously present a smooth flat surface to the lint falling thereon,and it will be self-restoring in shape in the event it is deformed inany way, for example, by an uneven sweeper member, or inadvertently byan attendant.

By mounting the collection pan 24 in the foregoing manner, it dividesthe textile machine into two separate zones, an upper zone through whichthe textile material passes and in which lint is generated, and a lowerzone in which various loom parts operate and in which air currents arecreated which tend to move upwardly as indicated by the arrows 33 inFIG. 3. The collection pan 24 acts as a barrier to prevent these aircurrents from rising into the lint producing zone of the textile machineand spreading the lint haphazardly over the loom and over adjacentmachinery. A suction manifold 36, also mounted on the loom frame crossmember 28, has downwardly tapering sides 30a and 3612 which, as seen inFIG. 4, terminate in a plurality of outlet openings 36 to which a pairof flexible hoses 37 are attached. These hoses communicate with a vacuumcollection box 33 conveniently located adjacent the loom, and on whichis mounted a blower unit 39 which draws air from the manifold 30,through the hoses 37, through a filter and lint receptacle locatedwithin the vacuum collection box 38, and thence out through a dischargeopening of the blower unit 39. Thus, any lint which is deposited in thesuction manifold 30 after being removed from the collection pan 24 willbe drawn by the vacuum into the collection box and there retained forfuture disposition.

As seen generally in FIGS. 1-4 and more particularly in FIG. 9, asweeping means is provided for sweeping or pushing the lint which hascollected on the collection pan 24 during machine operation from itsplace of deposit to the suction manifold 30 for removal. The sweepingmeans constitutes essentially a sweeper member or brush type element anda driving means therefor, and in this embodiment includes one or moresweepers or brushes 44) which are suspended between a pair of endlesschains 42 for uni-directional movement across the collection pan 24.Each of the chains 42 passes over a front and rear sprocket 44 and 46which are respectively mounted on front and rear shafts, 48 and 50, thefront shaft being supported for rotation by a pair of adjustable bearingsupports 51 which are secured to the bifurcated portion 52a of a supportbracket 52 which is clamped or otherwise conveniently secured to thedrag roll 16. The rear shaft 50 is supported by bearings 54 mounted onupstanding side extensions 62 of the suction manifold 36. The frontshaft 48 is driven by a small electric motor 56 mounted on a side plate52b of one of the brackets 52 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The sweepermember 46 is secured to the chains 42, (see FIG. 8) by a small anglebracket 57 having one leg secured to a chain link and the other legsecured to the sweeper member by a screw 58 or other convenient means.The sweeper member 40 comprises a substantially channel shapedrelatively rigid frame 40a which partially encloses a blade element 4012made of rubber or other suitable resilient material which is cut to forma plurality of individual fingers for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, it will be seen that the suctionmanifold 30 has an upper channel portion generally indicated by thenumeral 60 which forms a lint receiving mouth for lint deposited thereinby the sweeper members 40. More particularly the channel portion 60 isdefined by side extensions 62 of the suction manifold 30 which supportthe rear chain shaft 50, a pivoted right angle shaped door 64 along therear part of the channel portion, and the upper rear edge of thecollection pan 24 along the front part of the channel portion. A shortupstanding lip 66 supports a clamping member 68 which is bent as seen inFIGS. 5, 6 and 7, to secure the rear edge of the resilient collectionpan 24 to the suction manifold 30. The door 64 is mounted upon the rearedge of the suction manifold 30 by a hinge 69 so that the door may pivotfrom a closed position seen in FIG. to an open position seen in FIG. 6.A spring 70, secured at one end to one of the side extensions 62normally maintains the door in its closed position.

The door 64 is composed of a vertical component 64a which constitutesthe rear wall of the channel portion, and a horizontal component 64bwhich extends from the upper edge of the vertical component 64a towardthe rear edge of the collection pan 24 to constrict the size of the lintreceiving mouth, thereby increasing the velocity of the air that isdrawn therethrough by the blower unit 39.

The operation of the device as thus far described is as follows:referring to FIGS. 1 and 59 it will be seen that operation of motor 56causes rotation of drive shaft 48 and the sprockets 44 mounted thereonwhich in turn drive the chains 42 in uni-directional movement around thefront and rear sprockets 44 and 46. The chains 42 carry the sweepermembers 40 across the collection pan from front to rear so that theresilient blade element pushes any lint which has collected on thecollection pan toward the suction manifold 36.

As seen in FIG. 7, the lint forms into a mound or drift in front of thesweeper member 46 which is pushed by the latter across the surface ofthe collection pan 24. After a relatively short travel of the sweepermember 46, a mound of lint has accumulated of sufi'icient size that themound itself acts as a sweeper element which is pushed by the sweepermember 44 in a manner similar to the action of a snow plow.

As the sweeper member 40 approaches the rear edge of the collection panand the forward edge 640 of the suction manifold door 64 (FIG. 5), thereceiving mouth is still further restricted so as to obtain the maximumair velocity; this aids in drawing the accumulated mound of lint intothe suction manifold. When the resilient blade element 40b reaches therear edge of the collection pan, the individual fingers thereof snaprearwardly due to a slight compression in the fingers caused by theproximity of the sweeper member to the collection pan. This snappingaction of the fingers assures the removal of all the lint from thecollection pan into the suction manifold.

After the sweeper member frame 40a contacts the forward edge 64c of thepivoted door 64, continued movement of the sweeper member 40 around therear sprockets 46 causes the door 64 to pivot rearwardly onits hinge 69,whereupon the respective parts assume the position seen in FIG. 6; atthis time, the door 64, being biased by the spring 70 to its closedposition, maintains contact with the sweeper member 44) and scrapesagainst the resilient blade element 49b as the latter continues in itspath of travel. Thus, any lint which may adhere to the blade element 40bas it passes over the suction manifold 30 is scraped off by theaforementioned forward edge Me. The door 64 returns to its closedposition, as seen in FIG. 7, after the resilient fingers 40b pass beyondthe forward door edge 64c, whereupon the sweeper member 40 is carried bythe upper run of the chains 42 back to the front edge of the collectionpan 24 and around the forward sprockets 44 in position to commenceanother cycle of operation.

Referring again to FIG. 9, an alternative means of supporting theforward edge of the collection pan is illustrated wherein the cross bar26b is bolted or otherwise conveniently secured to the bifurcatedportion 52a of the support brackets 52. The front edge of the collectionpan 24 is connected to the cross bar 26]) by tension springs 32 asbefore.

While this construction is somewhat simpler than the previousarrangement since it eliminates the angle members 26a, it neverthelesssuffers the disadvantage of making the tension in the collection pan 24subject to any displacement of the support brackets 52 from theirinitial position, which displacement may itself be desirable asconstituting an alternative means of adjusting the tension in the chains42.

FIGURE 10 illustrates an alternative form of collection pan 24a havingthe form of a flat sheet, preferably fabricated from thin gage metalwhich is secured at its rear edge to the upstanding lip 66 of thesuction mani fold 30 by being bent as 24b in a shape similar to that ofthe bracket 68 shown in FIG. 5, and is supported at its front edge by alip 24c bent over the forward ends of a plurality of angle members 26asimilar to those employed in FIGS. 1-8. This construction has theadvantage of being easier to fabricate and install than the flexiblesheet. However, one drawback of this type of collection pan is the factthat it is not shape restoring, and, in the event that it isinadvertently bent or distorted out of shape, the sweeper member 40 maynot maintain proper contact therewith.

FIGURES l1 and 12 illustrate another embodiment of the invention whereina modified form of sweeper member reciprocates across the surface of aresilient collection pan and simultaneously rotates about itslongitudinal axis in a direction of rotation opposite to that normallyurged by the contact surfaces of the sweeper member and collection,thereby causing the wiper member to scrape across the collection pansurface. In this embodiment of the invention, a resilient collection pan24 is mounted along its rear edge on a modified rear suction manifold 72and is connected along its front edge to a plurality of tension springs32, which are secured to spring brackets 32a welded or otherwise securedto a forward upstanding wall 73 of a front suction manifold 74 disposedadjacent to and just beneath the front edge of the collection pan 24 andfastened to the bifurcated portion 100a of support brackets 1%; by thisarrangement, lint can be deposited in a removal station by the sweepermember moving in either direction.

The sweeper member 76 of this embodiment consists of an elongatedbrush-type element, circular in cross-sectron, having a rigid centralcore 78, and a plurality of individual bristles 80 extending therefrom,the ends of which form a substantially solid peripheral sweepingsurface. As seen in FIG. 12, the core 78 extends across the collectionpan 24 and has extensions 79 which project beyond the outer edges of thecollection pan to receive a pair of bearings 82 thereon which haveeyelets 84 to receive the end loops 86 of a pair of driving belts 88.The belts 88 pass around front and rear pulley wheels 98 and 92 whichare respectively non-rotatably mounted on front and rear shafts 94 and9s. The front shaft 94 is journaled for rotation in a pair of bearings98 mounted on portions ltlila of brackets 100 adjacent the manifold 74.It will be evident that upon rotation of the front shaft 94 by theelectric motor 56 secured to a plate ltltlb integral with one of thesupport brackets 190, or by other convenient means whether powered ormanual, the belts 88 will be driven by the pulleys 99 to move thesweeper member 76 bodily across the collection pan 24 in one direction.By means hereinafter described, the sweeper member 76 is translated backand forth across the collection pan to de: posit lint alternately in thefront and rear suction mani- The means by which the aforementionedrotation is lmparted to the sweeper member '76 simultaneously withtranslation thereof comprises a pair of sprockets 196 which arenon-rotatably mounted on the'core 78 between the bearings 82 and theouter edges of the bristle portion and which engage with a pair ofstationary link chains 108 suspended over the collection pan 24 in thepath of movement of the sprockets 106. Each chain is secured at its rearend to a pin 111 supported in a U-shaped bracket 112 which in turn issecured to a vertical side extension 104 of the rear suction manifold727 The forward end of each chain 108 is secured to a similar pin 114which is secured by another U-shaped bracket 116 to one of the supportbrackets 19th supporting the forward drive shaft. By this structure, thechains 198 are supported in position over the sweeper member 76 and inline with the path of travel of the sprockets 1% with a predeterminedamount of sag therein, with the re: sult that the chains 198 will riseand fall with the sprockets 106 and sweeper member 76 as the lattermoves up or down because of sag in the resilient collection pan;continuous contact between the sprockets and the chains is thus assuredthroughout the path of travel of the sweeper member.

The particular apparatus by which the sweeper member 76 is caused toreciprocate forms no part of the present invention; hence, a generaldescription of an illustrative means of accomplishing the desired resultwill suffice. Referring to FIG. 11, it will be seen that a pair of limitswitches 118 and 120 are mounted on the front and rear manifolds 74 and72 respectively in such position that a leaf actuator 122 on each limitswitch is in the path of travel of one of the collars 89 and is movedthereby when the sweeper member 76 reaches the end of its path of travelin a given direction. The switches 118 and 120 are connected byappropriate electrical circuitry (not shown) to an A.C. reversing switchof conventional design which has a pair of triple-pole single-throwinterlocked relays which control the flow of current to the motor 56which, in this illustration, is a triple phase A.C. reversible motor. Itwill be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that upon actuation ofeither one of the limit switches 118 or 129, the reversing switch isactuated to reverse the phase of the current being fed to the motor,thereby reversing its direction of operation.

It should be noted that the switches 118 and 126 are so positioned "thatthe longitudinal axis of the sweeper member 76 passes beyond the frontand rear edges of the collection pan 24 before the respective switchesare actuated so that the bristles 8t) will partake of the same flickingaction as they pass the edges of the collection pair as that of thefingers 49b of the sweeper member 40 of the previous embodiment, asillustrated in FIG. 5.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows: assuming that the relaysof the aforementioned reversing switch are set so that the motor 56causes rotation of the forward drive shaft 94 in a clockwise directionas viewed in FIG. 11, the forward drive pulleys rotate with the shaft 94to drive the belts 88 therearound and around the rear idler pulleys 92thereby moving the sweeper member 76 bodily across the collection pan 24from front to rear. As the sweeper member 76 moves, the sprockets 1%,car ried by the core extensions 79, engage with the links of chains 108and consequently rotate in a counterclockwise direction about theirlongitudinalaxis. Thus the bristles 80 scrape across the surface of thecollection pan 24 and push the lint which has collected thereon towardthe rear suction manifold.

When the sweeper member reaches the end of its path of travel at therear suction manifold 72, the collar 89 engages the leaf actuator 122.of the limit switch to actuate the latter in the aforementioned mannerto reverse the direction of operation of the motor 56, whereupon thesweeper member 76 will be drawn by the drive pulleys 92 and belts 88toward the front suction manifold 74 while simultaneously rotating in aclockwise direction. This motion will continue until the collar 39contacts the leaf actuator 122 of the forward limit switch 113 whereuponthe cycle just described commences again.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate still another embodiment of the invention whereina sweeper member is pivoted at one,

end thereof to one corner of a collection pan and is manually operatedto swing in an arc about a pivot point, and is extensible so as to sweepan area greater than that encompassed by the quadrant of the circlewhich would be generated by the free end of a sweeper member of fixedlength rotating about the same pivot point. More particularly, asubstantially rigid collection pan fabricated of thin gage metal orother suitable material is supported generally in the region between thedrag roll 16 and heddles 22 by angle members 26a which are secured atone end to the loom frame cross member 28 and to the edge of thecollection pan 124 at the other end. A cross bar 26b overlies the edgeof the collection pan 124 for a purpose hereinafter to be described,while the opposite edge of the collection pan 124 is secured to amodified suction manifold 139 in a manner similar to that illustrated inFIG. 10.

A shaft 132 is journaled for rotation in a bracket 134 which is securedto one end of the suction manifold 130. A sweeper member 136, more fullydescribed hereinafter, is fixed to the shaft 132 for rotation therewith,movement being effected by means of a crank 137 and a handle 138 securedto the upper end of the shaft 132 in a position convenient to anoperator standing beside the loom.

In order to clean the maximum possible surface area of the collectionpan 24 with a pivoted sweeper member the free end of which wouldnormally swing in an arc of a circle, means are provided for causing thesweeper member to expand during a first portion of its stroke and tocontract during the remaining portion of its stroke so that an area ofthe collection pan which lies outside of the aforementioned arc iscovered. Accordingly, there is provided a sweeper member 136 having anouter tubular section 140 and an inner tubular section 142 which istelescoped within the outer tubular section 148 over a greater portionof its length. The outer tubular section 140 has one end adjacent themanifold 130 secured to the shaft 132 for rotation therewith, and has alength not substantially greater than the depth of the collection pan orabout one half of its width, whichever is less. The tubular sections 140and 142 are slotted along their bottom side as seen in FIG. 14 in orderto loosely grasp the thinned neck position 144 of a resilient,stretchable and shape recoverable blade member 146 made of rubber orother suitable material. The blade member 146 has an enlarged headportion 148 which is received within the tubular sections 140 and 142and which prevents the blade member 146 from being readily withdrawntherefrom. Formed integral with the neck portion 144 remote from thehead 148 is a scraping or pushing element which comprises a plurality ofindividual fingers 150 which correspond to the fingers 26b of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-8.

The blade member 146 is secured to the outer end of the inner tubularsection by a clip 152, shown in FIG. 15, having one end thereof embeddedin the end of the head portion 148, the other end being looped around ashaft 154 secured to the free end of the inner tubular section 142. Theother end of the blade member 146 is secured to the shaft 132 in asimilar manner. Therefore, as the inner tubular section telescopes inand out of the outer tubular section to alter the length of the sweepermember 135, the blade member 146 will expand and contract accordingly tomaintain the same length as the two tubular sections combined.

The means by which the wiper 136 is caused to expand and contract as itpivots about the axis of the shaft 132 comprises an open bottomedchannel shaped guide track 160 having parallel vertical side walls and ahorizontal top wall. The guide track 160 is secured at one end there ofto an upstanding lip 162 on the suction manifold 130 by bolts or otherconvenient means at approximately the transverse mid-point of thesuction manifold. The guide track 160 extends forwardly beneath the dropwires 20 and warp strands 14 to a point adjacent the front of thecollection pan 124 whereupon it curves 90 and extends toward one side ofthe collection pan and thence extends parallel to the front edgethereof, terminating adjacent the aforementioned side. That portion ofthe guide track 160 which lies parallel to the front of the collectionpan is supported by a plurality of brackets 164 secured to a side wallof the guide track 160 and to the cross bar 26b.

The free end of the sweeper member 136 is forced to follow the path of,and is simultaneously supported by, the guide track 160 as the sweepermember 136 pivots about the axis of shaft 132 by means of a followerassembly generally designated 170 in FIG. 13. This assembly, as moreparticularly seen in FIG. 15, comprises a roller 172 journaled forrotation on the end of the shaft 154 which is secured to the outer endof the inner tubular section 142, the roller having a curved peripheryso as to reduce friction to a minimum. Also secured to the inner tubularsection 142 adjacent the outer end thereof is a substantially U-shapedsupport post 174 which extends upwardly and over the upper surface ofthe guide track 168 and which terminates in a socket 176 and ball 178,the latter being adapted to ride on the guide track upper surface. Thesocket 176 and ball 178 may take the form of a conventional ball typecaster which is capable of universal motion in a horizontal plane.

Referring again to FIG. 13, a pulley 188 is fixed to the lower end ofthe shaft 132 for rotation therewith. Pulleys 182 and 184 are journaledfor rotation on a suitable bracket 186 conveniently mounted on the loomframe. A11 endless drive belt 188 is passed around this group of threepulleys and thence beneath the collection pan to an identical group ofthree pulleys (not shown) similarly mounted on the opposite side of theloom. Another sweeper member identical in structure to the sweepermember 136 has one end mounted on a shaft journaled for rotation in asuitable bracket on the opposite end of the suction manifold 130, and ismovably connected at its other end to another guide track 168a which isidentical in all respects to the guide track except that it extends fromthe center of the loom away from the track 160. The belt 188 is crossedover upon itself beneath the collection pan 24 like a figure 8 so thatwhen the pulley rotates in one direction to drive the belt 188, thecorresponding pulley on the opposite side of the loom which is fixed tothe aforementioned shaft will be driven in the opposite direction.

In order to prevent any relative rotation between the inner and outertubular sections, a pin, 190, secured to the inner tubular section 142by any convenient means, is adapted to slide in a groove 192 formed inthe outer tubular section 140. The length of the groove 132 isapproximately the distance by which the inner tubular section telescopeswithin the outer tubular section.

In operation, the operator or attendant for the loom grasps the handle138 and rotates the crank 137 about the pivot shaft 132, therebyrotating the latter about its longitudinal axis. Sweeper member 136,being fixed to shaft 132, rotates with the latter to swing from aposition where it lies contiguous with the side edge of the collectionpan to a position where it is contiguous with the rear edge of thecollection pan. As the sweeper member 136 moves in this arc, the roller,172 follows the configuration of the guide track 160 causing the innertubular section to be withdrawn from the outer tubular section duringapproximately the first half of its path of travel and thence causingthe inner tubular section to be retracted back within the outer tubularsection during the remainder of its path of travel. The ball caster 178simultaneously rides along the upper surface of the guide track 160 tohglp support the weight of the tubular sections 140 and 1 2.

As the inner and outer tubular sections 142 and 1419 respectively areextending or contracting, the blade element 146 is similarly expandingor contracting in length due to its resilience and also the fact that itis secured to the opposite ends of the sweeper member 136 by clips orthe like. Hence, it can be readily appreciated that a much greater areaof the collection pan 124 can be covered by an arrangement as shownrather than by a sweeper member of fixed length moving about a pivot atone end, the other end of which would generate an arc of a circle.

While shaft 132 is rotating during the Wiping stroke, pulley 180 isrotating therewith and driving belt 188 around idler pulleys 182 and184, and around similar pulleys mounted on the opposite side of the loomas aforementioned, which belt drives a similar pulley, shaft and sweepermember for the half of the collection pan 124 not covered by the sweepermember 136. It will be understood that the two wipers operate inwindshield Wiper l. l fashion by virtue of the belt 138 being crossedover upon itself beneath the collection pan 124.

When the wiper 136 has reached the end of its path of travel and hasdeposited the accumulation of lint in the suction manifold 130, rotationof a crank 137 by the handle 138 in the opposite direction moves thewiper 136 back to its initial position adjacent the side edge of thecollection pan.

Although the various components of the devices illustrated have beenshown as being inseparable from the textile machine, it is within thescope of the invention that certain elements of the cleaning apparatusmay be separate from the textile machine. For example, the motor, fan,lint container, and connecting hoses may be part of a portablecollection unit which is wheeled along the fioor of the mill room inwhich the looms are located, or suspended from an overhead rail, andwhich is moved from loom to loom in a certain pattern. In suchsituation, each loom is provided with a collection pan, sweepingmechanism, and manifold, to which the collection unit is connected asthe lint from that loom is to be removed. When the proper connectionsare made, the sweeping mechanism is operated to deposit the collectedlint into the manifold from where it is drawn into the portablecollection unit, whereupon the unit is moved to the next loom.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that there has beenprovided textile machinery lint removing apparatus which is believed toprovide a solution to the problems, and to fulfill the objectiveshereinbefore set forth. It is to be understood, however, that the abovedescription and accompanying drawings are to be deemed primarily asillustrative of the best modes presently contemplated of carrying outthe principles of the invention, and that the devices describedandillustrated may be modified or altered in their form, proportions,detail of construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Textile machinery cleaning apparatus for gathering from the airadjacent said machinery lint which is gen erated by the operation ofsaid machinery in at least one region thereof and which collects thereonafter falling downwardly through said air, thereby preventing saidcollection, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first pair of supports spaced apart within said region,

(b) a substantially flat resilient sheet mounted on said supports andpresenting a surface toward said falling lint and being imperviousthereto, said sheet extending substantially across said region, wherebysaid sheet intercepts said falling lint and supports said lint thereon,

(c) a second pair of supports spaced apart within said region, eachlatter support being located in juxtaposition to a corresponding One ofsaid first pair of supports,

(d) sweeping means mounted on said second pair of supports for movementthrough at least a portion of said region relative to said sheet forsweeping said supported lint to a station located adjacent an edge ofsaid sheet in said region, and

(2) means located at said station for receiving from said sweeping meanslint which has been moved thereby to said station and for removing saidlint from said station,

( said first pair of supports including:

(1) a bracket secured to one edge of said resilient sheet and mountedupon said lint receiving means,

(2) a stiffening bar secured to the opposite edge of said resilientsheet,

(3) a plurality of coil springs secured at one end thereof to saidstiffening bar,

(4) an elongate member extending transversely 12 of said sheet andsecured to the other end of said coil springs, and (5) means supportingsaid elongate member substantially in the plane of said sheet, wherebysaid sheet is maintained under tension by said coil springs.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsupporting said transverse elongate member comprises a longitudinalelongate member secured at one end to said transverse elongate memberand connected at its other end to said lint receiving means.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means forsupporting said transverse elongate member comprises a pair of bracketssecured to said transverse elongate member and which are adapted to bemounted on said textile machinery.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sweeping meanscomprises:

(a) at least one sweeper member, and

(b) drive means for said sweeper member for moving said sweeper memberacross said sheet.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said drive meanscomprises:

(a) a pair of shafts journaled for rotation in said second pair ofsupports,

(b) a pair of sprockets on each shaft disposed adjacent the transverseedges of said sheet,

(0) a pair of endless chains, each chain lying in a vertical plane andpassing around a set of corresponding sprockets whereby said chains aredisposed in parallel relationship to said transverse edges of saidsheet, said chains being driven by said sprockets,

(d) means connecting said sweeper member to said chains whereby saidsweeper member is transversely suspended across said sheet, and

(e) means for rotating one of said shafts in a given direction wherebysaid sweeper member is carried by said chains in a first horizontalplane across said sheet in one direction toward one of said shafts,around the sprockets mounted on that shaft, back across said sheet inthe opposite direction toward the other shaft in a second horizontalplane disposed from said first plane, and around the sprockets on saidother shaft to its initial position.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said means connectingsaid sweeper member to said chains comprises a pair of brackets eachhaving two legs disposed at substantially a angle to each other, one ofsaid legs being secured to a link of said chains, the other of said legsbeing secured to said sweeper member, said one leg being of sufficientlength that said sweeper member makes contact with said sheet when saidsweeper member is moving in one of said horizontal planes.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said sweeper membercomprises:

(a) a rigid channel shaped frame extending between said chains, and

(b) a resilient blade element inserted in said frame and retainedthereby, said blade element having a plurality of relatively narrowindividual fingers which make contact with and brush across said sheet,

whereby said fingers will individually snap forwardly relative to thedirection of motion of said sweeper member across said sheet when saidfingers reach the rear edge of said sheet relative to said direction ofmotion to assure that all the lint moved by said sweeper to said edgewill be removed therefrom and deposited in said receiving means.

8. Textile machinery cleaning apparatus for gathering from the airadjacent said machinery lint which is generated by the operation of saidmachinery in at least one region thereof and which collects thereonafter falling downwardly through said air, thereby preventing saidcollection, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first pair of supports spaced apart within said region,

(b) a substantially flat resilient sheet suspended between said supportsand presenting a surface toward said falling lint and being imperviousthereto, said sheet extending substantially across said region, wherebysaid sheet intercepts said falling lint and supports said lint thereon,

(c) a second pair of supports spaced apart within said region, eachlatter support being located in juxtaposition to a corresponding one ofsaid first pair of supports,

(:1) sweeping means mounted on said second pair of supports for movementthrough at least a portion of said region relative to said sheet forsweeping said supported lint to a station located adjacent an edge ofsaid sheet in said region,

(e) means located at said station for receiving from said sweeping meanslint which has been moved thereby to said station and for removing saidlint from said station, and

(1) means mounted on said receiving means for cleaning said sweepingmeans after said sweeping means has moved said lint to said station.

9. Textile machinery cleaning apparatus for gathering from the airadjacent said machinery lint which is generated by the operation of saidmachinery in at least one region thereof and which collects thereonafter falling downwardly through said air, thereby preventing saidcollection, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first pair of supports spaced apart within said region,

(12) a substantially flat resilient sheet suspended between saidsupports and presenting a surface toward said falling lint and beingimpervious thereto, said sheet extending substantially across saidregion, whereby said sheet intercepts said falling lint and supportssaid lint thereon,

(c) a second pair of supports spaced apart within said region, eachlatter support being located in juxtaposition to a corresponding one ofsaid first pair of supports,

(d) sweeping means mounted on said second pair of supports for movementthrough at least a portion of said region relative to said sheet forsweeping said supported lint to a station located adjacent an edge ofsaid sheet in said region,

(e) a suction manifold located at said station for receiving from saidsweeping means lint which has been moved thereby to said station and forremoving said lint from said station, said suction manifold having:

(1) an inlet opening adjacent to and facing toward said edge of saidsheet,

(2) an outlet opening, and

(3) vacuum means connected to said outlet opening for causing airmovement through said manifold from said inlet opening to said outletopening, and

(1) means mounted on said manifold and movable between a first andsecond position for constricting the size of said inlet opening when insaid first position and for cleaning said sweeping means when in saidsecond position.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said sweeping meanscomprises:

(a) at least one sweeper member, and

(b) drive means for said sweeper member, said drive means comprising:

(1) a pair of shafts journaled for rotation in said second pair ofsupports,

(2) a pair of sprockets on each shaft disposed adjacent the transverseedges of said sheet,

(3) a pair of endless chains each chain lying in a vertical plane andbeing passed around a set of corresponding sprockets whereby said chainsare 14 disposed in parallel relationship to said transverse edges ofsaid sheet, said chains being driven by said sprockets,

(4) means connecting said sweeper member to said chains whereby saidsweeper member is suspended across said sheet, and

(5) means for rotating one of said shafts, whereby said sweeper membercarried by said chains in a first horizontal plane across said sheet inone direction toward one of said shafts, around the sprockets mounted onthat shaft, back across said sheet in the opposite direction toward theother shaft but in a second horizontal plane disposed from said firsthorizontal plane, and around the sprockets on said other shaft to itsinitial position.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said one shaft ismounted on said suction manifold adjacent said inlet opening.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said constricting andcleaning means comprises:

(a) a hood pivotally mounted on said suction manifold, said hoodoverlying and partially obstructing said inlet opening when said hood isin said first position, said hood having:

(1) a forward edge directed toward said sheet and lying in the path ofsaid sweeper member as said sweeper member passes around the sprocketsof said one shaft whereby said hood is moved by said sweeper member fromsaid first position to said second position, and

(b) spring means urging said hood toward said first position,

whereby said forward edge of said hood scrapes across said sweepermember to remove any lint therefrom not removed by said suctionmanifold.

13. Textile machinery cleaning apparatus for gathering from the airadjacent said machinery lint which is generated by the operation of saidmachinery in at least one region thereof and which collects thereonafter falling downwardly through said air, thereby preventing saidcollection, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a first pair of supports spaced apart within said region,

(b) a substantially flat resilient sheet mounted on said supports andpresenting a surface toward said falling lint and being imperviousthereto, said sheet extending substantially across said region, wherebysaid sheet intercepts said falling lint and supports said lint thereon,

(c) a second pair of supports spaced apart within said region, eachlatter support being located in juxtaposition to a corresponding one ofsaid first pair of sup ports,

(d) sweeping means mounted on said second pair of supports for movementthrough at least a portion of said region relative to said sheet forsweeping said lint alternately to a first station located adjacent oneedge of said sheet and then to another station located adjacent theopposite edge of said sheet, and

(e) means located at said first and second stations for receiving fromsaid sweeping means lint which has been moved thereby to said stationsand for removing said lint from said stations.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said sweeping meanscomprises:

(a) a sweeper member, and

(b) drive means for said sweeper member for moving said sweeper memberacross said sheet in a reciprocatory motion.

15 The apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said sweeper membercomprises:

(a) a core extending between said bearings and. ro-

tatably mounted therein, and

(b) a plurality of individual bristles mounted on said core and coveringa major portion of the length of 15 said core, the outer ends of saidbristles defining a peripheral brush-like surface.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said drive meansincludes:

(a) a pair of shafts journaled for rotation in said second pair ofsupports,

(b) a pair of pulleys on each shaft disposed adjacent the transverseedges of saidsheet,

(c) a pair of drive belts passing around said pulleys and disposed inparallel relationship to said transverse edges of said sheet, said beltsbeing driven by said pulleys,

(d) means connecting said sweeper member to said drive belts wherebysaid sweeper member is suspended transversely across said sheet, and

(e) means for rotating one of said shafts alternately in one directionand then in the opposite direction,

whereby said sweeper member is carried by said drive belts across saidsheet in one direction toward said first station receiving means whilesaid shaft rotates in said first direction and then back across saidsheet in the opposite direction toward said second station receivingmeans while said shaft rotates in the opposite direction.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the distance betweensaid shafts is such that the vertical diameter of said sweeper membercan be moved slightly beyond said edges of said sheet whereby saidbristles snap forwardly relative to the direction of motion of saidsweeper member across said sheet when said bristles reach the edges ofsaid sheet to assure that all the lint moved by said sweeper to saidedges is removed therefrom and deposited in said receiving means.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means forconnecting said sweeper member to said belts comprises a pair ofbearings, each having means for connecting said bearing to said drivebelts, whereby said sweeper member is free to rotate while being movedacross said sheet.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said drive meansfurther includes means for rotating said sweeper member during movementof said sweeper mem ber across said sheet in a direction opposite tothat in which said sweeper member is urged by moving contact betweensaid sweeper member peripheral surface and said sheet and whereby saidbristles scrape across the surface of said sheet.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said rotating meanscomprises:

(a) a third pair of supports mounted adjacent said second pair ofsupports in a horizontal plane which is disposed above the plane of saidsecond pair of supports,

(b) a pair of chains suspended from said third pair of supports oversaid sheet in parallel relation to said transverse edges of said sheet,and

(c) a pair of sprockets fixedly mounted on said core and disposedbeneath said chains for engagement therewith.

21. Textile machinery cleaning apparatus for gathering from the airadjacent said machinery lint which is gen erated by the operation ofsaid machinery in at least one region thereof and which collects thereonafter falling downwardly through said air, thereby preventing saidcollection, said apparatus comprising:

(a) first support means spaced apart within said region,

(b) a substantially flat sheet mounted on said first support means andpresenting a surface toward said falling lint and being imperviousthereto, said sheet extending substantially across said region, wherebysaid sheet intercepts said falling lint and supports said lint thereon,

() second support means located within said region,

(d) extensible sweeping means mounted on said second support means formovement through at least a major portion of said region relative tosaid sheet for sweeping said supported lint to a station locatedadjacent one edge of said sheet in said region, and

(e) means located at said station for receiving from said extensiblesweeping means lint which has been moved thereby to said station and forremoving said lint from said station.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second supportmeans comprises:

(a) a bracket mounted on said receiving means, and

(b) a substantially Lshaped guide track defining a path of travel forsaid sweeping means, said guide track:

(1) having an open bottomed, box'shaped crosssectional configuration,and further having: (2) one leg thereof lying parallel to and contiguouswith the edge of said sheet remote from said one edge and having theother leg thereof traversing said sheet from said remote edge to saidone edge and terminating adjacent said receiving means.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said extensiblesweeping means comprises:

(a) an outer tubular member,

(b) an inner tubular member telescoped within said outer tubular member,

(0) means pivotally securing the free end of one of said tubular membersto said bracket,

(d) follower means securing the free end of the other of said tubularmembers, to said guide track,

(e) a blade element of stretchable elastic material carried by saidtubular members,

(f) means for securing said blade element to said free ends of saidtubular members whereby said blade element will expand and contract inlength as said tubular members move relative to each other, and

(g) drive means for moving said tubular members relative to said sheet,

whereby said follower means moves along said guide track as said tubularmembers pivot about said bracket to cause said tubular members to moverelative to each other and extend in length while said follower meanstraverses said one leg of said guide track, and to cause said tubularmembers to move relative to each other and contract in length while saidfollower means traverses said other leg of said guide track.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said follower meanscomprises:

(a) a roller rotatably mounted on said other tubular member andextending upwardly therefrom through the open bottom of said guide trackand adapted to ride therewithin, and

(b) caster means attached to said other tubular member adjacent saidroller and adapted to ride on the upper surface of said guide track.

25. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said second supportmeans comprises:

(a) a pair of brackets mounted on opposite sides of said receivingmeans,

(12) a pair of substantially L-shaped guide tracks each defining a pathof travel for said sweeping means, each guide track:

(1) having an open-bottomed box shaped crosssectional configuration, andfurther having: (2) one leg thereof lying parallel thereto andcontiguous with the edge of said sheet remote from said one edge andextending across approximately one half of said edge, and having theother leg thereof traversing said sheet from said remote edge to saidone edge and terminating adjacent said receiving means.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 25 wherein said extensiblesweeping means comprises:

(a) a pair of extensible sweeping devices, each device having one endpivotally mounted in one of said brackets and having the other endsecured to one of said guide tracks for movement through said path oftravel,

(b) drive means for moving one of said extensible sweeping devices, and

(c) motion transmitting means connecting said extensible sweepingdevices for movement in opposite directions of rotation about saidbrackets,

whereby said extensible sweeping devices move across said sheetsimultaneously and cover substantially all of said sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FranceAug. 18,

Loepsinger May 16,

Sohler July 24,

FOREIGN PATENTS France June 8,

1. TEXTILE MACHINERY CLEANING APPARATUS FOR GATHERING FROM THE AIRADJACENT SAID MACHINERY LINT WHICH IS GENERATED BY THE OPERATION OF SAIDMACHINERY IN AT LEAST ONE REGION THEREOF AND WHICH COLLECTS THEREONAFTER FALLING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID AIR, THEREBY PREVENTING SAIDCOLLECTION, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST PAIR OF SUPPORTSSPACED APART WITHIN SAID REGION, (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RESILIENTSHEET MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORTS AND PRESENTING A SURFACE TOWARD SAIDFALLING LINT AND BEING IMPERVIOUS THERETO, SAID SHEET EXTENDINGSUBSTANTIALLY ACROSS SAID REGION, WHEREBY SAID SHEET INTERCEPTS SAIDFALLING LINT AND SUPPORTS SAID LINT THEREON, (C) A SECOND PAIR OFSUPPORTS SPACED APART WITHIN SAID REGION, EACH LATTER SUPPORT BEINGLOCATED IN JUXTAPOSITION TO A CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID FIRST PAIR OFSUPPORTS, (D) SWEEPING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND PAIR OF SUPPORTS FORMOVEMENT THROUGH AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID REGION RELATIVE TO SAIDSHEET FOR SWEEPING SAID SUPPORTED LINT TO A STATION LOCATED ADJACENT ANEDGE OF SAID SHEET IN SAID REGION, AND (E) MEANS LOCATED AT SAID STATIONFOR RECEIVING FROM SAID SWEEPING MEANS LINT WHICH HAS BEEN MOVED THEREBYTO SAID STATION AND FOR REMOVING SAID LINT FROM SAID STATION, (F) SAIDFIRST PAIR OF SUPPORTS INCLUDING: (1) A BRACKET SECURED TO ONE EDGE OFSAID RESILIENT SHEET AND MOUNTED UPON SAID LINT RECEIVING MEANS, (2) ASTIFFENING BAR SECURED TO THE OPPOSITE EDGE OF SAID RESILIENT SHEET, (3)A PLURALITY OF COIL SPRINGS SECURED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAIDSTIFFENING BAR, (4) AN ELONGATE MEMBER EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAIDSHEET AND SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID COIL SPRINGS, AND (5) MEANSSUPPORTING SAID ELONGATE MEMBER SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF SAIDSHEET, WHEREBY SAID SHEET IS MAINTAINED UNDER TENSION BY SAID COILSPRINGS.